No extra payment: Doc

By LORRAINE JIMAL
SCHOOLS should use their funds wisely for their term one operations as there is no extra payment for this term, according to Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra.
Kombra said the first K211 million released by Education Department was for last year’s fourth quarter.
“We held back the funds because we didn’t want to risk paying the money during Christmas break,” he said.
Kombra said the second payment released, K158 million, was the funds component of K316 million for the first two terms.
“No other payment is coming,” he said.
“We are paying the full K158 million for term one and the schools must use this accordingly.
“The next K158 million will be for term two school operations.”
Kombra said they were working on another K158 million for term two and should be released to the schools soon.
“We are working with Treasury and Finance to get the part of this funds to school.”
He said the Government had allocated K632 million for this year, of which, K316 million for the two first term had already been released.
Kombra said from past experiences, he could not guarantee this year’s funds would be released in full and on time, but, the schools would still receive funds.
“I cannot give you the guarantee for the full amount to receive by the schools this year because of the economic situation and the challengers in the country,” he said.